Guillena, build a pedestrian bridge over the arroyo!

[peregrina2000]

If you've walked the Vdlp, you may remember the Arroyo de los Molinos -- it's after Italica and before Guillena. If you're lucky it's dry enough so you can walk across. Next best, that you can shimmy across one of the big tree trunks lying across. But if the rains are heavy, like they have been this year, you may have to choose between walking in water over your waist or backtracking a few km and going on the highway.

You can find an online petition here: https://secure.avaaz.org/es/petitio...e_los_Molinos_Guillena_Sevilla/?pfKQjcb&pv=38

This has been in the works for years, but nothing has really materialized except some inadequate quick fixes. What they need is a bridge. If Ender and his Salvador angels crew were down here, they would have this solved in no time -- buy the wood, build the bridge, done.

I would hate to see a huge imposing granite bridge and walkway like what was installed before Lires coming from Muxia. No need to go berserk, something simple will work just fine.

 

[SYates]

I was lucky, when I crossed it the water was low. I guess it is a money problem for the town? So perhaps instead of 'demanding' it in a petition, some pilgrims and local amigos could get together and just do it (with permission of course)? Buen Camino, SY

 

[Peregrinopaul]

you may remember the Arroyo de los Molinos

Indeed, Peregrina2000. I was faced with the tree-trunk crossing with a loaded bike in 2012. Fortunately a very large Dutch peregrino came along.
I'm going this year and have decided to avoid it. Discretion ...etc.

 

[LTfit]

This is the second time this petition is in circulation. Unfortunately locals do not seem to be concerned. Shall we start a crowdfunding campaign for the local Amigos chapter? I have a contact there and wouldn't mind initiating this.

 

[Carel5]

The amigos from Sevilla just posted a warning (also posted on the Almeria FB page) that the Arroyo can not be waded through

https://www.facebook.com/arcandel/posts/10153842503538445

With the warning was a call to sign the petition and a video, made by a local cyclist with recent footage at the Arroyo.

 

[SYates]

Seems I was lucky when I was at that same spot earlier this year! On a completely unrelated note. That Marian Hymn brings memories back from a shared pilgrims mass with Spaniards from Andalucia and Bavaria. The Bavarians nearly got a heart attack when the Olé! started. I had a hard time explaining to them that it really was a hymn to the virgin - Bavarian hymns tend to be a wee bit more tranquilo ...

Thanks for two lovely memories, SY

PS So, when are we forming a committee / fundraiser / work party to build that bridge?

 

[Peregrinopaul]

he amigos from Sevilla just posted a warning (also posted on the Almeria FB page) that the Arroyo can not be waded through

Looks like a good spot to open a bar.
The N630 ain't fun either. I'm going to head north through La Algaba.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Okay, but as I remember it, the "walls" of the arroyo are quite high (I can't explain this in English). If you want something woody and simple to step on at the bottom of the arroyo, the water in spring and autumn will flood it. And constructing a bridge above, at the same level as the ground, would require a real bridge, sort of a boring modern construction as the one on the Camino de Muxía, as Laurie mentioned in her first post. Cause it would be to high to just spread out a bunch of planks or tree trunks, right?

/BP

 

[Thomas1962]

There seems to be a solution to this problem, given by the local camino association.
There is an alternative route now, which is 4-6 kms longer. There are also reports that the new route is signed now.
More info in spanish:
http://www.viaplata.org/…/375-variante-a-guillena-por-la-al…
A map with the alernative route:
https://docs.google.com/…/1rwDEfSslTdTsC9gwV2bWNTwjGwy…/edit
or
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...ll=37.487585315566086,-6.051057999457839&z=13

Buen camino and dry feet!